German coach, Gernot Rohr would be given a short-term contract covering only the 2018 World Cup qualifiers after which a longer deal would be given to him by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), reports AfricanFootball.com.
The 63-year-old tactician, who once coached the national teams of Gabon, Niger Republic and Burkina Faso is in line to be appointed the new Super Eagles coach after the NFF technical and development committee recommended he be hired by the executive committee last weekend.
“Paul Le Guen was offered a two-year deal, but in the case of Rohr, he will get a deal now that will only cover the World Cup qualifiers, which start in October and end in November 2017. It is only after he has qualified Nigeria for the World Cup that he will get a longer deal,” an official informed AfricanFootball.com.
The financials of the coach’s initial deal are still under wraps as officials maintained contractual negotiations are still ongoing.
Rohr, who arrived in Nigeria last weekend after meeting the technical committee of the NFF, is to be presented to the media in due course.
Meanwhile, the coach has said he is yet to sign any contract with the NFF.
A football analyst, Osasu Obayiuwana through his twitter handle @osasuo disclosed this saying “This is what Gernot Rohr just said to me. minutes ago: “I didn’t sign yet [to become @NGSuperEagles Manager].”
Osasu later in another tweet said: “I have arranged to speak with Gernot Rohr before he boards a flight for home, from Abuja, tonight. Let’s see what happens.”
The vice chairman of the NFF technical committee, Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, defended the choice of the German for the plum job after their meeting last Saturday in Abuja.
“The committee was impressed with Mr Rohr’s profile and current activities for the German Football Federation (DFB) so we invited him to Nigeria for exhaustive deliberations.
“He was very positive, showed great interest in the job and is ready and willing to live in Nigeria.
“He is also willing to work with indigenous Nigerian coaches and with the committee and believes the Super Eagles can qualify for the 2018 Fifa World Cup, which is very important to the NFF.
“He swayed the committee with his calmness, good knowledge of the African terrain, focus and maturity,” Fresh had told thenff.com.